Don’t Deny Your Children Access To Immunisation For Disease Prevention – UNICEF Advises Mothers
Mothers and caregivers in Osun State have been urged not to deny their children or wards access to immunisation, but that they should take advantage of health provisions by taking their children to designated health centers for vaccination, so as to protect them from childhood diseases and it’s risks.
The UNICEF SBC Specialist, Mrs Aderonke Akinwole gave the charge at the quarterly Social and Behavioural Change Committee (SBCC) meeting, organised by the Osun State Ministry of Information and Public Enlightenment in conjunction with United Nations Children Funds (UNICEF), held at the conference hall of the Ministry, Government Secretariat Abeere.
The Social and Behavioural Change Specialist who highlighted the benefits of immunisation, stated the objective of SBC as promoting and scaling behaviour change at individual and Community levels to drive positive outcomes for children and adolescents across key thematic areas in the State by reducing barriers related to behaviour while shifting social and gender norms that increase child deprivation, noted that it is good for every household to be sensitised on the importance of immunisation.
Calling out to.mothers in Osun state to prioritise the health of their children, she charged the SBC committee members to be agents of disseminating messages on the values and benefits of taking children for immunisation which could reduce or totally eradicate the cases of toddlers and children’s death in the society
In his discuss, the State Assistant Health Promotion Officer, Mr Akande Adewale said the goals of the UNICEF is to ensure all children are vaccinated across board, hence the importance of sensitising the Communities so as to let them know the benefits of been vaccinated.
He reported that Osun State has been very active in participating in child immunisation activities which according to him “has reduced the preventable diseases like child morbidity, and mortality rate among the people of Osun.
He added that, routine immunisation is always conducted at Health facilities and outreaches in communities and settlements of the State.
Earlier in his address of welcome, the UNICEF Programme Director in the Ministry of Information, Mr Raphael Ojo who spoke on behalf of the Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Oluomo Kolapo Alimi appreciated the participants for attending the programme.
He eulogized UNICEF for consistency, for Nigerians to ensure people , especially children are safe and live a healthy life.
Mr Ojo also highlighted the purpose of the programme which is to deliberate on social behaviour change which must be preached everywhere and at every gathering so that people can live peacefully in their communities and stay healthy, especially, the children.
Highlights of the event was the presentation of reports by all the line Ministries, Department and Agencies on the activities carried out so far on social behaviour change.